Calls for dual-herbicide canola in SA answered

South Australian canola growers have been calling for a dual-herbicide tolerant non-GM canola hybrid combining Clearfield and triazine tolerant technologies, and Pacific Seeds has answered those calls, becoming the first company to sell it for the 2019 season.

The new technology, known as Hyola CT, is available nationwide in the form of the first variety, mid-season hybrid Hyola 580CT.

Yorketown farmer Richard Dodd was one of the first in the country to trial the new technology last season.

Mr Dodd said with the rapid expansion of group b imi-tolerant crops such as wheat, barley and lentils in his district, Hyola CT is an important part of the winter cropping IWM toolbox.

“Dual-herbicide canola is a big winner in our district because there’s heavy use of group b’s,” he said.

“We planted this on a block we recently purchased that has group b ‘imi’ residues, but because it was such a small plot, we just used the Clearfield element.

“My agronomist got me onto the Hyola CT, because we want the dual tolerance for the canola we are planting this year (2019) – so we can use the TT chemicals for our weed control.”

He planted six hectares on the new paddock about 20km from their home block, ‘Temana’, where he farms with his father Colin.